'Bargain Mansions': Tamara Day gives contemporary makeover to 1964 colonial house with refurbished fireplace
On the latest episode of ‘Bargain Mansions’ on December 7, Tamara Day picks a 1964 colonial house spread across 2,300 square feet. The demo on the house had already started but the owners had to leave it midway through the project. Tamara bought the house for $247,000 and she set aside a $15,000 renovation budget. For the first phase of the house which included the first floor layout and the outside, Tamara and her team had eight weeks.
Initially, the house was old and lacking character, Tamara and her team decided to add vertical siding giving it a new contemporary outlook. The windows and the shutters of the house were dated, Tamara decided to install black aluminum windows to contrast with the crisp white walls. The look of the house from the streets instantly became brighter, inviting and had subtle hints of black giving the house an edgy look.
The office inside the house was dark and dated, Tamara decided to open up the exterior wall and put in a fighter staircase out to the patio. She also inserted four flush mount lights that had a modern at the same time cultural appeal to them. For the half bath on the first floor, Tamara decided to go with a floating stone sink and a beautiful wallpaper for the walls. The family room was transformed into a bright and welcoming place to gather.
The room was originally dark and dated and had small windows. Tamara and her team worked on opening up the place and gave the room floor to ceiling windows blanking a huge fireplace and a picture window flanked by two custom bookcases. The cast lime-stone fireplace was the focal point of the drawing room.
When Tamara started the renovation the fireplace was falling apart. After being refurbished with modern tiles, the fireplace became the center of attraction in the room making it the perfect piece to tie everything together in that space.
The kitchen in the house initially had only one window, Tamara decided to open up the wall behind the sink and installed new kitchen windows overlooking the view of the gold field. Tamara gave oak hardwood floors to the family room and the dining room and chose to go with custom handmade wooden carpentry for the rest of the layout.
The exterior was renovated, windows were redone and the symmetry of the house was restored giving the classic colonial building a modern outlook. Catch all the new episodes of 'Bargain Mansions' on HGTV every Monday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.